An Horry County man was sentenced to 35 years in prison this week for sexually abusing a 9 year old girl, according to the 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Carlos Lopez, 36, was found guilty by an Horry County jury of first degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and lewd act upon a minor. Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Culbertson sentenced Lopez Monday to 35 years on the criminal sexual conduct charge and 15 years on the lewd act charge. The sentences will run concurrently and Lopez is not eligible for parole or any sort of early release until serving at least 85 percent of the 35 years, said assistant solicitor Martin Spratlin.

Upon his release, Lopez will be monitored by a GPS tracking device at all times and must register as a sex offender.

Lopez was charged in connection with the sexual abuse of a 9 year old girl between 2010 and 2012.

The child was in the custody of her grandparents but often visited her mother’s home, Spratlin said. Her mother was in a relationship with Lopez at the time and the pair lived together, he said. Authorities learned of the abuse when she started refusing to go to her mother’s house and mimicked sex acts with other children her own age.